Budgeting modes
Two ways to budget in one app. Compare the approaches, pick what fits, and learn how to switch.
Most budgeting apps force you to budget one specific way, usually envelopes or spending caps, not both. That's fine if their approach matches how your brain works. If it doesn't, you're stuck.
Basis Budget ships with both. You pick the one that fits you, and switch if you change your mind. Your transactions, accounts, categories, and preferences stay exactly where they are.
This chapter is the overview: a side-by-side comparison, a decision aid for figuring out which one fits you, and how switching works. For step-by-step setup and day-to-day use, each mode has its own dedicated chapter.
Envelope-style budgeting. Setup walkthrough, rollover, and the five goal types.
Monthly caps per category. Setup walkthrough and auto-carry for lumpy categories.
The big picture
Both modes share:
- Your accounts, transactions, and history
- Categories and category groups
- Transaction splits, auto-categorization, and payee rules
- The Transactions tab, the Reports tab, and net worth tracking
What differs is how you plan. Zero-Based asks you to give every dollar a specific job each month. Spending Limits asks you to pick a cap for the categories you care about and tracks spending against it.
That's the whole difference. Everything else works the same way.
A quick comparison
| What | Zero-Based | Spending Limits |
|---|---|---|
| The unit | Every dollar | Every category with a cap |
| Monthly ritual | Assign your money to categories | Just keep living |
| Over-spending | Move money from another envelope | See the red bar, adjust next month |
| Setup time | ~15 minutes | ~10 minutes |
| Best for | Planners, savers, detail people | Trackers who want guardrails |
Which should you pick?
Honest guidance based on how you answer these:
“I've tried YNAB and it clicked.”
Zero-Based. You'll feel at home.
“I've tried YNAB and it felt exhausting.”
Spending Limits. You wanted a budget that stayed out of your way more.
“I'm new to budgeting and a bit intimidated.”
Spending Limits. Lower floor, faster to set up. You can level up to Zero-Based later.
“I'm breaking out of paycheck-to-paycheck and need to save for real.”
Zero-Based. The discipline of assigning every dollar forces awareness.
“My income is irregular (freelance, tips, commission).”
Either works. Zero-Based is stronger if you want structure and can handle adjusting as income comes in. Spending Limits is easier if you just want to track without a monthly ritual.
“I'm managing shared finances with a partner.”
Whichever matches the more budget-oriented person's style. Trying to run Zero-Based with a skeptical partner is hard.
Still stuck? Start with Spending Limits. It's faster to set up, lower-stakes, and you'll learn your own spending patterns. Switch to Zero-Based later if you want tighter control. Nothing is locked in.
Switching between modes
You can switch any time from Settings › Budget Mode.
What stays. All your transactions, accounts, categories, category groups, payees, and preferences. Nothing gets deleted.
What resets. The mode-specific planning data. If you were in Zero-Based with monthly envelope assignments and you switch to Spending Limits, those assignments are cleared (they mean nothing in Spending Limits). If you switch back later, you'll re-assign for the current month.
No data loss either way. You can experiment.
Ready to set up?
Head to the deep-dive for whichever mode you're going with: